ThePresident and Fellows of Harvard College, also called theHarvard Corporation or justthe Corporation, is the smaller and more powerful ofHarvard University's two governing boards. It refers to itself as the oldest corporation in the Western Hemisphere.[1] At full capacity, as of 2024, the corporation consists of twelve fellows as well as the president of Harvard University, for a total of thirteen members.[2]
The Corporation and theBoard of Overseers exercise institutional roles that, at most other colleges and universities, are more commonly consolidated into a singleboard of trustees.[3]
Although the institution it governs has grown into a university of whichHarvard College is one component, the corporation's name remains "The President and Fellows of Harvard College".[4]
The Harvard Corporation is a501(c)(3) and the owner of all of Harvard University's assets and real property.[5]
As a governing board, the Corporation traditionally functioned as an outside body whose members were not involved in the institution's daily life, meeting instead periodically to consult with the day-to-day head, thepresident of Harvard University, whom it appoints, and who also serves as a member. The Corporation is self-perpetuating, appointing new members to fill its own vacancies as they arise.
For most of its history, the Corporation consisted of six fellows in addition to the president. But after the presidency ofLawrence Summers from 2001 to 2006, and a large endowment decline after theGreat Recession in 2008–2009, a year-long governance review was conducted. In December 2010, it announced that the Corporation's "composition, structure, and practices" would be altered: the number of fellows would increase from six to twelve, with prescribed terms of service, and several new committees would endeavor to improve the group's integration with the activities of the University as a whole, especially its long-term planning.[6]
The Charter of 1650 established the Harvard Corporation board which consisted of seven members: a President, five Fellows, and a Treasurer. The Corporation had the authority to manage the College's finances, real estate, and donations, act as a legal entity in courts of law, select officers and servants, and create orders and bylaws for the College, with the approval of the Board of Overseers.[8]
The founding members of the Harvard Corporation were respectively:Henry Dunster as President,Samuel Mather,Samuel Danforth, Jonathan Mitchell,Comfort Starr and Samuel Eaton as the five Fellows andThomas Danforth as the Treasurer.[9] These men had, in perpetual succession, the duties of managing the College.
The 1780Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts reaffirmed that, despite the change in government due to theAmerican Revolution, the corporation would continue to "have, hold, use, exercise and enjoy" its property and legal privileges.[10] However it further noted that "nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the legislature of this commonwealth from making such alterations in the government of the said university."[11]
On May 22, 2024, one day before the annualHarvard Commencement ceremony, the corporation refused to give diplomas to thirteen seniors of Harvard College involved inpro-Palestinian protests, overruling a vote of theFaculty of Arts and Sciences that included the students on the list of graduating students.[17][18][19][20] Critics called it an attempt "to kill faculty governance" from a body that is usually "publicity-shy".[21]
As of May 2024, there are currently thirteen members of the Corporation, including the University president, who sets the agenda but does not vote.[22][23]
^"Bill Lee to join Harvard Corporation".Harvard Gazette (Press release). Harvard University. April 11, 2010. RetrievedMay 26, 2025.… on July 1, 2010, when James R. Houghton, A.B. '58, M.B.A. '62, steps down from the Corporation … Robert D. Reischauer, A.B. '63, who chaired the search committee and will succeed Houghton as senior fellow.
